Thanks to the fantabulous reviewers: Althea M, No one special, kokoronagomu, donhisiewen, AlterEgoSadist, geckohawaii, Scarred Sword Heart, caseyedith, and Emi Violet.
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Jubilee
-noun
Any season or occasion of rejoicing or festivity.
"HIMURA'S AWAKE!"
Misao's shout reverberates through the entire Shirobeko, interrupting Okina at his drinking, Aoshi at his meditation, and Kaoru from a much-needed catnap. There is a brief pause as the news sinks in, and then they are all scrambling up the stairs, elbows flying and voices shrieking. Megumi pokes her head out the door and waspishly admonishes, "Shut up, you idiots! Not all at once—"
Sanosuke picks her up bodily and sets her aside.
And then there is Kenshin, pale and wan and too thin but smiling, with his mouth and his eyes; Yahiko ends up on the pallet almost in his lap, Kaoru is holding both his hands in hers with tears in her eyes, Sano cuffs him on the shoulder, and Misao is bouncing around the room like a hyperactive rubber ball. The rest of the residents are crowding around the door, beaming and congratulating one another.
Kenshin himself is a sparrow in the eye of the hurricane; fuddled and disoriented, yet the storm about him is a happy one. His gaze passes from Kaoru-dono's ecstatic features to Yahiko-kun's broad grin to Sano's smirk, and he can hear Megumi happily scolding in the background.
The joy of their ki thrums in the air, suffusing his veins like rainbows. This, he thinks, is what I fought for.